Spot II GPS tracker on sale at Best Buy $79

[Justin]

Just ordered one up myself, so thought I share in case anyone else was looking to buy one. Only in silver/black at that price. I'll just paint mine orange  

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/SPOT+-+SPOT+2+Satellite+GPS+Messenger+-+Silver/9511012.p?id=1218116795825&skuId=9511012

[Justin]

Down to $49 now if anyone is interested - wish I waited a month now  

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/SPOT+-+SPOT+2+Satellite+GPS+Messenger+-+Silver/9511012.p?id=1218116795825&skuId=9511012&st=spot&cp=1&lp=5

[stromgal]

I was getting intrigued (I have a pay-as-you-go phone with lousy coverage, so it can be difficult to let folks know I'm okay while traveling) until I realized it was another $100 for the service.

Good price on the unit, though!

[Justin]

I was getting intrigued (I have a pay-as-you-go phone with lousy coverage, so it can be difficult to let folks know I'm okay while traveling) until I realized it was another $100 for the service.

Good price on the unit, though!

Yeah, the service is expensive - and it's another $50 if you want the automatic tracking - so you don't have to check in manually all the time.

[CosmicCowboy]

Wow, I've got a $20 BB gift card right now. That makes it very tempting.

[bomber]

this thing is a great deal like a msart phone to me -- I'm  REALLY tempted, and can easily understand the usefullness of the device, but the plan costs just lead to me find ways to not buy one ;-}

this behavior has only worsened since the KLR followed me home.

[JNUNZMAN]

You could just give family members your password to the "find my iPhone" and let them track you that way if you have one...

[Justin]

You could just give family members your password to the "find my iPhone" and let them track you that way if you have one...

Same thing with Android and google latitude. Problem is that only works when you have cell coverage. The Spot uses satellite tracking, so it works just about everywhere.

[lionlady]

Just picked up my Spot2. There was an additional $25 off. So, it wasabout $35 before tax.  

There's a really bad, BAD (and old) review of the Spot2 on Best Buy's online shopping page. No doubt that's why they're practically giving them away. They still seem to have them on hand.

P

[RBEmerson]

If the idea behind having a SPOT is to show folks where you are and maybe report your location and status along the way, fine.  As an emergency device, forget it.  

We know folks who sail with SPOT devices.  Keep the thing dry (a Zip-Lock bag will do) and where it can talk to the satellites (buried in a draw is not a good idea), and it should be OK.  But we've seen enough outages to convince us that as an emergency reporting device, SPOT simply isn't that reliable.  For that reason, we do not have a SPOT on our boat.  

Instead, look into an EPIRB - they're not cheap to buy, need to be fed batteries on occasion (not cheap), and you need to maintain the registration annually (no fee to date).  There is no "monitoring fee".  They will not report your location is you move about, they will not report where you're parked for the night, but when push comes to shove, they work.  

[Bravo12]

I've been riding with a first-gen SPOT for about 2 years now. I've been on the fence about whether or not to bother upgrading to the SPOT II. I had added the SPOT roadside assistance back in 2010, but could only access it by phone, since the first-gen doesn't have a button for it. My buddy Todd tried the SPOT Connect and doesn't seem to like it at all. So, with this sale, and a $5 certificate for Best Buy, I pulled the trigger. Now I need to order the RAM-Mount cradle for it.

[Justin]

Now I need to order the RAM-Mount cradle for it.

I prefer to have the device attached to me, in case I get separated from the bike in an accident. For example, if I rode off an embankment, and I rolled down the hill, and the bike was 50 yards away; would be nice not having to crawl over with broken bones to push the SOS button.

[lionlady]

I prefer to have the device attached to me, in case I get separated from the bike in an accident. For example, if I rode off an embankment, and I rolled down the hill, and the bike was 50 yards away; would be nice not having to crawl over with broken bones to push the SOS button.

If you've got the tracking (breadcrumb trail) feature, whoever is home watching your progress will note that you haven't moved in an extended period and could call help. Help wouldn't get to you as fast, but it wouldn't be completely useless.

P

[Bravo12]

My first-gen really had signal issues if it was in a pocket, which is why I ended up using a RAM-Mount for it.

[Daniel Kalal]

My first-gen really had signal issues if it was in a pocket, which is why I ended up using a RAM-Mount for it.

I think you'll find the Spot2 does better at this than the original.  But, you still need to make sure that the face points up and is parallel to the ground.  I keep mine inside my duffle bag.  Spot2 handles gaps in the transmission much better.  It remembers the lat/lon, and then when it has access to the sky for a transmission, will broadcast those positions.  I use it to track my location for later (I really don't care if anybody is tracking me or not).

I don't know that it missed a beat on this entire trip.  If you measure the spaces between pings you could probably figure out my speed on the autostrada in Italy and Hungary.  The original Spot wouldn't be this complete.

[CosmicCowboy]

 But, you still need to make sure that the face points up and is parallel to the ground.  

Is it really that critical? I gave mine a test run with it clipped to my jacket, definitely not face up, and it worked fine.

[Justin]

Is it really that critical? I gave mine a test run with it clipped to my jacket, definitely not face up, and it worked fine.

Well, since it comes with a sleeve band that does not face up, I'd assume it's not that critical  

[Daniel Kalal]

Well, since it comes with a sleeve band that does not face up, I'd assume it's not that critical  

Taken from the company FAQ:

The SPOT patch antenna lies directly under the SPOT logo. For best results, position the unit so SPOT is facing up towards the sky in a horizontal position with a full view of the sky. For tracking, try securing your SPOT on top of the shoulder strap or outside top pocket of you backpack.

It does make a difference.

[Justin]

Taken from the company FAQ:

The SPOT patch antenna lies directly under the SPOT logo. For best results, position the unit so SPOT is facing up towards the sky in a horizontal position with a full view of the sky. For tracking, try securing your SPOT on top of the shoulder strap or outside top pocket of you backpack.

It does make a difference.

Maybe that's not a arm strap it ships with then, and it actually goes around your chin so the unit sits facing up on the top of your head  

But yeah, I have read that on the site. But mine seems to work fine on the arm strap, and other folks I know that carry them that way have no issues with it. So, I don't think it makes a "huge" difference; but not arguing antenna location. So one may not be getting the "best results", but it seems to work fine worn on the arm. Probably because when sitting on a bike, your arm points a bit up.

[Bravo12]

After getting my Spot2 in the mail last week and seeing it came with an armband, I think I'll hold off on getting a Ram Mount cradle for now. I plan on trying it strapped around my forearm if I can get it tight enough; that should keep it facing the sky while riding the Versys.